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Sebastian Jürgens Elected ZDS President, Sets Push for Stronger Federal Role

He opens by urging Berlin to take greater responsibility for ports regarded as anchors of jobs, prosperity, the energy transition.

Overview

  • Members of the Zentralverband der deutschen Seehafenbetriebe elected the 62-year-old in Hamburg to lead the association representing about 140 port-related companies.
  • Matthias Magnor, 51, was chosen as vice president and has served as CEO of the Bremer logistics group BLG since January.
  • Jürgens criticized the lack of progress on promised bureaucracy cuts, citing new hurdles facing ports and calling for a swift import VAT offset model to match EU competitors.
  • The new president argued that sea ports secure millions of jobs and form the foundation for national prosperity and the success of the energy transition.
  • He put a funding target on the table, urging €15 billion from the €500 billion infrastructure special fund plus €500 million annually to the Länder for port investments.